18 Sept: Hertford to Secret Nuclear Bunker

The well-signposted ‘Secret Nuclear Bunker’ was our destination today and our launch pad was Hertford, as this was in range of the target. So we set off via Paradise Park and skirted south of Harlow for our morning coffee stop at the Garden Centre, where Carol, Judy & Steve met us.

I then took the group via Greensted, where we made a cultural detour to visit the oldest wooden church in the world. http://www.greenstedchurch.org.uk/ St Andrews Church, Greensted is also the oldest ‘Stave Built’ wooden building in Europe. I was fascinated by the small hole fashioned into the north wall. It is uncertain whether this was a ‘leper’s squint’ or a holy water stoup.

Greensted Church

Outside Greensted Church

Pressing on, we passed through Chipping Ongar and took the road to Stondon Massey before reaching Kelvedon Hatch and the Secret Bunker. Here we found the back entrance, a long overgrown tunnel into the hillside, leading straight to the canteen. This offered a good range of hot and cold meals.

Inside the Nuclear Bunker

Looking out from the rear entrance

Spartan sleeping arrangements

Operations for dummies

A few hills were in order to restore our appetites for tea, so we climbed to Navestock, then Tawney Common and finally Ivy Chimneys, before reaching Upshire Church for another wonderful tea. Here we found out that High Beach church did similar teas - must try that one next May.